Four State Lookout is one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas
Geography. It sits on a hilltop next to White Cloud, Kansas, a town
of 176 people on the Missouri River, a couple of miles siuth of the Nebraska
State Line. White Cloud is also known for its small monument to Wilbur
Chapman who inspired the use of piggy banks to raise money for American
Leprosy Missions.

I not sure that the lookout actually looks out over 4
states. Missouri and Nebraska are just a mile or two away, but Iowa is
over 40 miles away.

In the 1930s three concrete pillars were placed on this
hilltop to anchor cables which crossed the Missouri River. Those cables
were removed long ago, but for the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial, a lookout
platform was added to this site.

View to the north with Missouri on the other side of the river and
Nebraska about 2 miles away on the left

Looking down river from the Four State Lookout

White Cloud Grain Co. Inc. elevator

Old cable anchors next to the lookout platform

In 1913, Wilbur Chapman was the 10 year old son
of missionaries. Wilbur met William Danner who came to White Cloud to raise
money for the American Mission to Lepers. Danner gave Wilbur $3 at the
end of his visit, which Wilbur saved until fall, used to purchase a piglet
which he named "Pete," raised the pig, sold it and sent the $25 to the
American Mission to Lepers.

The story of Wilbur and Pete was published in Sunday
School Times and inspired children in Sunday schools across the United
States to feed Pete the Pig banks. By 1938, they had raised over $1,000,000.
The program continues to raise money for American Leprosy Missions to this
day.

Wilbur Chapman monument at Main Street & First

Erected in 1938
In White Cloud 25 years ago
Wilbur ChapmanA 10 year old boy raised and sold
a pig 'Pete' to help support a leper
boy. His example started the pig
bank movement. 100,000 banks have
been distributed to date. 'Feeding'
these banks is helping rid the
world of leprosy and is carrying outChrist's Command:
"Cleanse the Lepers"